What Draws Us

We are attracted to that which uplifts us.

We sense it when there is some quality in what we see which makes us stop and look at it.

It can be a lovely garden or even a single plant.

It can be the way a display is arranged.

It can be how colors are combined in a design.

It can be how a piece of clothing is cut or ornamented.

We feel the intent of the artist, or gardener, or display builder.

When we create something, we are employing that same uplifting quality.

We want our idea to be expressed in what we are making.

We want people who see it to be drawn to it.

We cycle between creation and appreciation.

Every little thing we do between creation and appreciation helps uplift our day.

© 2017 Kathryn Hardage

www.yourdiamondmind.blogspot.com

Habits of Consciousness

Ingrained habits are present through repetition, thousands and thousands of repetitions.

Changing our own habits occurs through awareness and then retraining our thoughts.

When a new idea is introduced, it comes up against the old habits.

A cultural norm is the result of centuries of tradition.

When differing cultures meet, the ingrained habits are introduced to one another.

Although a polite conversation could follow, that has not been the reaction of the past.

However, a new sense of the “rightness” of each culture for its time and place is emerging.

A shift to mental and intellectual consideration is beginning to override the visceral fears.

As many communities embrace several cultures, so the world is being introduced to that idea.

A measurement of school test scores shows that diversity is a strong positive influence, including in formerly low performing schools, as in (Clinton, Mississippi).

In places where everyone feels supported and safe, the time and energy devoted to fear is used to cultivate strong relationships in local economies instead.

Selective relationships within exclusive groups bring everyone down.

The abundance of many more thousands of connections creates invigorating expression and expands productive and harmonious activity.

We are given choices every day to create more expansive relationships, which, with repetition, will become new habits of consciousness.

© 2017 Kathryn Hardage

www.yourdiamondmind.blogspot.com 

Overcoming the Physiology of Memory

In reading Dr. Joe Dispenza’s books, I find it interesting how he describes habits start from mental direction, but then take over with physical expectations.

Breaking habits and changing direction requires repeated consistent conscious effort.

I am exploring this as I refine the direction I want to go, and have to rewrite the physical expectations I am used to.

What I remember is often no longer useful.

What is useful are my new skills and definitions.

It is good to pause and to allow a few moments to sift through the layers of expected effort, acknowledge them, and then move in a different direction.

Instead of pushing through to the desired result, I am allowing a new rhythm to develop.

I am filling in gaps.

I am letting a directed, defined approach replace hurried tension.

I am acknowledging that it is perfectly reasonable for this to take time, as I move from observing my behavior to defining it differently.

I am finding a new kind of self-respect.

Instead of being really, really good at following directions as quickly as possible, I am letting my deeper self define my life and my outward actions.

© 2017 Kathryn Hardage

www.yourdiamondmind.blogspot.com 

To Live for Self or For Principle

To live for self or for principle?

An important question.

Living for self can be quite gratifying.

It is easy to make decisions based on who will benefit.

Living for self attunes you to larger, bigger, stronger, more powerful “selfs”.

Because all you feel is your own want, your own self, you can easily be overpowered by a larger “self”.

You want what this larger “self” can give you.

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Living for principle gives you a wider view.

It gives you compassion.

It is easy to make decisions based on who will benefit.

Living for principle attunes you to those who live with this expansive view.

Because all you feel is principle, you can easily be powered by more compassion, more generosity.

You want what this larger view can give you.

Choose.

© 2017 Kathryn Hardage

www.yourdiamondmind.blogspot.com

Beyond Reason

We have hit a point beyond reason.

The agitation we are feeling has been building for millennia.

It is now time for everyone to experience the good and freedom available to some.

Time has evolved beyond defined gender roles and work limitations; freedom of expression tastes too good to be put away.

There is room for artists, responsible energy, and uplifting education and invention in every field.

We all have immense value, and now we can all live well, inspired by each other’s contributions.

It is unreasonable because it is being achieved anyway, against all reason.

It is the power of joy and compassion linked with every productive means which is making this possible.

What a great time, the momentum to live beyond reason.

© 2017 Kathryn Hardage

www.yourdiamondmind.blogspot.com

Receiving Ideas

You need room in your life and in your mind to receive original ideas.

Usually, our lives are so filled with carrying out someone else’s instructions for work… 

or in school… 

or taking care of someone else’s needs at home. 

We cannot hear the ideas that are truly ours.

And yet, we exist to honor our individuality.

You can set an appointment to take care of any other kind of need.

One of the ways to do that is to provide a reception area.

Only this time, you are setting an appointment for yourself.

You are creating a place and time to receive the original ideas that are yours to express.

When you sit down with your journal and a cup of tea in a quiet and comfortable spot where you will not have any interruptions, you are preparing yourself to listen within.

As you breathe deeply and shut out the distractions, you feel yourself relax.

You sit quietly, with no demands on you.

This is your time.

You have prepared a space.

You have designated the time.

Now, you can listen.

Breathe.  Listen.  Write.

© 2017 Kathryn Hardage

www.yourdiamondmind.blogspot.com

No Pushing

The right thing is always present.

It is so close, sometimes we can’t see it.

But, when we try to push or to speed things up, we lose it.

When we trust that things will happen at the right time, we don’t have to push.

We can continue doing the best we know, and improving how we do it.

Then, at some point, our good work may be seen and we may get the promotion, the next assignment, the best opportunity.

While we are working, it may seem that other people are getting ahead and that we are not.

But, once again, it is good to be attentive to details and improve even more.

Our good work may get recognized where we are, or another opportunity may open up for us.

Either way, a work ethic without pushing, but with continual striving to do our best, will benefit us all along the way.

A feeling of excellence is always welcome.

Without pushing, we can keep ourselves at such a standard.

© 2017 Kathryn Hardage

www.yourdiamondmind.blogspot.com